Elena’s POvThe silence between us stretched, heavy and thick, broken only by the distant sounds of birds chirping beyond the cracked window. Alessandro sat on the edge of the bed, the early morning light streaming over his face, painting shadows beneath his eyes. He looked different now—less the unshakeable Mafia boss, more the man behind the walls, the one I was just beginning to understand.He was staring at me.Not with that usual smirk or the commanding glare he wore like armor, but with something softer, deeper.“What is it?” I asked, voice barely above a whisper.He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his gaze dropped to the bruises along my arms, the small tear along my shirt where blood had dried in the fabric. I caught the flicker in his eyes—the storm of emotion barely held back.“You fought like hell,” he said finally. “You moved like you were born for it.”I almost laughed, the sound catching in my throat. “Wasn’t exactly a choice, was it?”“No,” he said, “but you didn’t
Elena Pov Later that evening, a heavy silence hung in the air inside the small, dimly lit room. Elena sat near the window, her back turned towards Alessandro as she gazed into the distance. The gentle flicker of the candlelight illuminated her features, casting long shadows across her face. Despite the warmth in the room, she felt an unsettling chill creep up her spine. The conversation she’d had with her father earlier had left her feeling uneasy, her instincts screaming that something wasn’t right.Her father’s voice had been calm, reassuring even. He had promised to help, to send aid for both her and Alessandro. But something in his tone, the way he avoided certain questions, had gnawed at her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t being completely honest. She wanted to trust him, to believe that he had the best intentions, but the dark past of her family’s ties to the Mafia whispered doubts in her mind. Could he truly be the ally they needed, or was he already playing a d
ELENA'S POV The scent of whiskey and cigar smoke clung to the air, thick and suffocating. My father’s trembling hands gripped my arm too tightly as he led me through the grand double doors of the De Luca estate. The mansion loomed ahead, its cold marble floors gleaming under the chandeliers, its towering walls a gilded cage I was being delivered into.I had known this day would come, but the finality of it settled into my bones like ice.The man waiting for me at the end of the long hall sat in a high-backed chair, one hand lazily resting on the armrest, the other swirling a glass of dark liquor. He did not rise when we entered. He didn’t have to. Power clung to him effortlessly, as natural as breathing.Alessandro De Luca.His name alone sent shivers down the spines of men who thought themselves untouchable. Ruthless, calculating, and feared. My father’s last bargaining chip in a debt he could never repay. And now, I was the payment."Mr. De Luca," my father stammered, squeezing my
Elena's povMy breath hitched as Alessandro’s fingers trailed from my chin to my jaw, his grip firm yet controlled. The dark amusement in his eyes sent a fresh wave of dread through me. I had planned everything down to the last detail—slipping past the guards, vanishing into the city’s underbelly. And yet, here I was, caught in his grasp like a bird with clipped wings."Running, Elena?" His voice was a slow, deliberate drawl, his accent curling around each syllable. "After all I’ve done to make you comfortable?"Comfortable. What a cruel jokeI had been locked away in this gilded cage for months, suffocating under the weight of Alessandro De Luca’s control."You can’t keep me here," I forced out, keeping my voice steady despite the fear clawing at my throat. "You don’t own me."Alessandro chuckled, the sound dark and knowing. "That’s where you’re wrong, bella. From the moment you said ‘I do,’ you became mine." He leaned in, his breath warm against my ear. "And I don’t let go of what’
Elena Pov A hand clamped over my mouth, stifling my gasp. My body went rigid, every muscle locking in place as a voice whispered against my ear. "You're making a mistake." I struggled, my instincts screaming at me to fight, to run, but the grip on me tightened. The stranger’s scent was unfamiliar—clean, sharp, nothing like Alessandro’s cologne. My pulse thundered in my ears. Who was he? Was this my ally? Or had Alessandro discovered my plan before I even had the chance to act? "Don’t scream," the voice warned, his breath warm against my skin. "I'm not here to hurt you." I stilled, barely breathing. Slowly, the hand loosened, then disappeared altogether. I spun, stepping back to put distance between us. A man stood before me, shrouded in darkness. He wore all black, his face partially concealed by shadows. His stance was poised, controlled. I swallowed hard. "Who are you?" "You don’t need my name," he murmured. "Just know that I was sent to get you out." My heart slammed ag
ELENA'S POV I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. The man who had tried to help me was dead. His body lay still on the cold pavement, a dark pool of blood spreading beneath him. I wanted to scream, to fight, to run—but Alessandro’s grip on my wrist was unyielding. "Look at me, amore," he murmured. I tore my gaze away from the lifeless body and met his eyes. They were calm, too calm—like he had just swatted away an inconvenience rather than murdered someone in front of me. "I didn’t want to do that," he said, almost bored. "But you left me no choice." A shudder ran through me. "You’re a monster," I whispered. His lips curled into a small smile. "I’ve been called worse." The air was thick with the scent of blood and gasoline. Alessandro’s men stood in formation behind him, their weapons still drawn, waiting for his next command. I could feel their eyes on me. I was trapped. Again. Alessandro lifted my chin with his fingers, forcing me to look at him. "This foolishness end
Elena Pov The silence was the worst part. Not the darkness. Not the cold. Not even the fact that Alessandro had locked me away like some disobedient pet. It was the silence—thick, suffocating, absolute. I had no idea how long I had been here. Minutes? Hours? Days? The walls were stark white, but the absence of windows made them feel like they were closing in on me. The only furniture was a single bed and a chair pushed into the corner. No mirrors. No sharp objects. A prison, dressed up to look like a guest room. I pressed my palms against the cold door. "Let me out," I whispered, but the words barely left my lips. No answer. I swallowed hard, my mind racing. I had fought Alessandro before, and I would fight him again. He thought he could control me? Keep me caged? He was wrong. I took a deep breath, forcing my hands to stop trembling. I would find a way out. A small metallic click echoed from the other side of the door. I tensed. Footsteps. The door creaked open, and
Elena’s POVThe room felt colder than before.The air was thick with tension, suffocating, pressing against my lungs like an iron weight. My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the beaten, bruised man between Alessandro’s guards. Blood dripped from his split lip, staining the collar of his shirt. His breathing was shallow, labored—like he already knew this was his end.He tried to help me.And now, he was going to die because of it.Alessandro stood beside him, his hands tucked into the pockets of his suit, the picture of calm indifference. His gaze met mine, unreadable, but I could feel the weight of his unspoken warning.You tried to escape. You failed. And now, someone else will pay the price.I swallowed hard, my throat dry and tight."Let him go," I forced out, my voice hoarse.Alessandro tilted his head, amusement flickering across his face. "Let him go?" he echoed, as if the very idea was ridiculous. He let out a soft chuckle. "Tell me, amore, why would I do that?"I clenc
Elena Pov Later that evening, a heavy silence hung in the air inside the small, dimly lit room. Elena sat near the window, her back turned towards Alessandro as she gazed into the distance. The gentle flicker of the candlelight illuminated her features, casting long shadows across her face. Despite the warmth in the room, she felt an unsettling chill creep up her spine. The conversation she’d had with her father earlier had left her feeling uneasy, her instincts screaming that something wasn’t right.Her father’s voice had been calm, reassuring even. He had promised to help, to send aid for both her and Alessandro. But something in his tone, the way he avoided certain questions, had gnawed at her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t being completely honest. She wanted to trust him, to believe that he had the best intentions, but the dark past of her family’s ties to the Mafia whispered doubts in her mind. Could he truly be the ally they needed, or was he already playing a d
Elena’s POvThe silence between us stretched, heavy and thick, broken only by the distant sounds of birds chirping beyond the cracked window. Alessandro sat on the edge of the bed, the early morning light streaming over his face, painting shadows beneath his eyes. He looked different now—less the unshakeable Mafia boss, more the man behind the walls, the one I was just beginning to understand.He was staring at me.Not with that usual smirk or the commanding glare he wore like armor, but with something softer, deeper.“What is it?” I asked, voice barely above a whisper.He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his gaze dropped to the bruises along my arms, the small tear along my shirt where blood had dried in the fabric. I caught the flicker in his eyes—the storm of emotion barely held back.“You fought like hell,” he said finally. “You moved like you were born for it.”I almost laughed, the sound catching in my throat. “Wasn’t exactly a choice, was it?”“No,” he said, “but you didn’t
Elena’s POVThe air in the hidden room was thick with tension. Every breath felt like a struggle, every heartbeat like the ticking of a time bomb. Had they truly left? Or was this another trap?Through the thin cracks in the wooden planks, I could still hear the heavy boots retreating, the muffled curses of men frustrated that their prey had slipped through their fingers.Then came the voice that sent a wave of relief through me.“Let’s move,” the leader of the gang ordered. “There’s nothing here. We’ll search the other sectors before dawn.”I stayed frozen, barely daring to breathe, as the enforcer who had been moments away from opening our hiding spot hesitated.“But, boss, I swear I—”“I said we move,” the leader cut in sharply. “Do you want to waste time on ghosts, or do you think they could escape the gun we shot at them?”A tense silence.Then, finally—A grunt of frustration, followed by heavy footsteps retreating toward the door.The battered man who had saved us groaned in pa
Elena’s POVThe air was thick with dust, the scent of blood clinging to the wooden walls of our hidden space. Every nerve in my body was on edge, my breath shallow as I pressed myself against the cold wall, feeling the faint rise and fall of Alessandro’s weak breathing beside me.The only thing between us and death was a thin wooden partition—and the man who had saved us was now at the mercy of the killers searching for us.Then came the sound that made my stomach lurch.Shattering glass.A loud crash, followed by the heavy stomping of boots. They were inside.My body tensed. I knew this moment would come, but I had hoped—prayed—that we would have had more time.“Search every damn room!” a voice barked. The authority in it sent a cold chill through my veins. These men were trained killers. Ruthless. Efficient. If they found us, there would be no second chances.I swallowed the fear rising in my throat, shifting my focus to Alessandro’s unconscious form beside me. His wounds still look
Elena’s POVDarkness.It wrapped around me, thick and suffocating. My body felt like dead weight, pain pulsing through every limb, my mind struggling to surface from the void.Then, a sharp ache in my side made me gasp.I was awake.I blinked, my vision blurry as the dim lighting of an unfamiliar room came into focus. The air smelled of antiseptic and something earthy, like damp wood. The mattress beneath me was thin and stiff, and a rough wool blanket scratched against my skin.Where the hell was I?Memories hit me like a sudden storm—gunfire, Alessandro bleeding out, the car chase, the crash. The darkness swallowing us whole.My breathing hitched.Alessandro.I tried to sit up, but pain sliced through my ribs. A groan slipped from my lips, and my body betrayed me, too weak to fight. My arms trembled under my weight before I collapsed back onto the bed.The door creaked open.I forced my gaze toward it, my muscles tensing as a shadow stepped inside.A man—broad-shouldered, mid-fortie
Elena’s POVA deadly silence filled the room after Alessandro hung up the phone. His face was carved from stone, his usual calm sharpened into something lethal.“They’re coming,” he said, already strapping a gun to his side.I swallowed hard. “How many?”He looked at me. “All of them.”My stomach twisted, but I forced myself to stand straighter. This was what I had been training for.A voice crackled over the radio. “Boss, we’ve got movement. Black SUVs approaching fast. They’re not here to negotiate.”Alessandro grabbed another gun, handing it to me. “Stay close. Don’t hesitate.”I nodded, gripping the cold metal in my hand. My heart pounded, but I wasn’t the same woman who had been helpless weeks ago.I was ready.The moment we stepped outside, chaos erupted.The first SUV screeched to a halt at the mansion gates, and the second followed right behind it. Then the doors burst open, and they poured out—men dressed in dark suits, armed to the teeth.Gunfire cracked through the night.I
(Elena’s POV)It started with small things.At first, I was just watching. Observing the way Alessandro moved through his world, the way his men responded to him with unquestioned loyalty. It was fascinating—and terrifying.But slowly, I found myself getting more involved.It wasn’t intentional. Maybe it was curiosity, or maybe it was the strange pull I felt toward Alessandro and his life, a world I had spent so long trying to escape.Either way, I was learning.And Alessandro noticed.“You’ve been paying attention.”I glanced up from the papers spread out in front of me, my fingers still hovering over a document I had been reading. It was coded in a way I didn’t fully understand yet—lists of transactions, shipments, and names that carried more weight than I could comprehend.Alessandro leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching me with an unreadable expression.I swallowed, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “I… was just curious.”He smirked. “Curious about how crimina
(Elena’s POV) The silence between us stretched, thick with unspoken words. Alessandro’s fingers were still intertwined with mine, his grip firm yet hesitant—like he wasn’t sure if I would pull away. But I didn’t. For the first time, I wasn’t running. I wasn’t sure if that made me brave or foolish. Maybe both. He exhaled slowly, his thumb brushing against my skin, sending a shiver up my arm. “So, what now?” I swallowed, my throat dry. “I don’t know.” A wry smirk ghosted his lips. “For someone who just made a life-changing decision, you don’t seem very sure about anything.” I let out a breathless laugh, shaking my head. “That’s because I’m not.” I wasn’t sure what this was between us. I wasn’t sure if it was built on something real or if it was just the weight of shared scars pressing us together. But for once, I wasn’t trying to analyze or escape it. Alessandro’s expression softened in a way I wasn’t used to seeing. He wasn’t the cold, calculated Mafia boss in this moment.
(Elena’s POV)The night was unnervingly quiet. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my body aching from exhaustion but my mind refusing to shut down.I wasn’t sure how I ended up back here, in Alessandro’s world, in his space. I had spent months convincing myself that I was better off without him, that I needed to be free from his control.And yet, here I was.I turned on my side, wincing at the dull pain in my ribs. The wound wasn’t deep, but it was enough to remind me how close I had come to dying tonight.If Alessandro hadn’t shown up…I shook the thought away, unwilling to dwell on it.I hated that I owed him my life.I hated even more that some part of me didn’t mind.A soft knock on the door broke through my thoughts.I hesitated. “Come in.”The door creaked open, and Alessandro stepped inside. He had changed out of his bloodstained clothes, now wearing a black fitted t-shirt and sweatpants—something far more casual than I had ever seen him in.His presence filled the room imme